PACE punts on bus cuts

November 11, 2009

The Pace board of directors unanimously approved a 2010 operating budget that promises to plug a $6.5 million deficit by cutting and eliminating routes but punted on which routes would be affected. The board cast the vote at a meeting this evening.

Board chair Richard Kwasneski vowed to work with communities and riders that would be affected by the proposed 51 suburban bus routes under consideration to be cut before voting on specific route cuts at its December meeting. The cuts would go into effect the first day of 2010, said spokesman Patrick Wilmot.

Weekday bus service on 33 routes would be eliminated or reduced; 19 routes would lose some or all weekend service. The routes serve communities from Arlington Heights to Naperville to Homewood. Many are feeders to Metra stations. All have low ridership.

The board was spared having to raise fares further on its paratransit service thanks to the state funding boost of $8.5 million announced earlier Wednesday by Gov. Pat Quinn. A fare increase to $3 will take effect Nov. 15, as planned.

The proposed route cuts drew criticism from disabled riders and some board members.

"We're not happy in DuPage County," board member Thomas Marcucci said. He noted that the proposed route bus route cuts would effectively cut off service for some disabled riders.

Paratransit rider Evelyn Graves of Arlington Heights agreed.

Proposed route cuts in her area, she said to the board, "will make me and my family homeless. I hope you can sleep."